May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2012 18:30:44 GMT
Today the Munch-ster has returned from my boyfriend's house. It turns out that, aside from the biting and regurgitating, all the problems were just my boyfriend over reacting. He went from "I wonder what I can teach him to do or say" in the first few days to "Please just live. I don't care if you don't learn anything from me but please stay alive." He even took a load of poop samples to the vet to get checked because apparently Munchy showed every type of diseased poop possible, but everything was fine ^^ Anyway, now that I've gotten him back, I'm going to try finger taming him as his biting has really died down. Outside of his cage he is giving lovely kisses to the nose and even allowing us to rub his head with our noses occasionally. I want to make sure he doesn't bite fingers, even if he never fully accepts them, because that's what everyone tries to get him to step onto first, and because it's easier to get a finger up under him when he's on a perch if he won't just jump onto my wrist. For the time being, I'm keeping him confined to his cage. The first few days I'm just going to sit near his cage and talk to him whilst he settles back in, and after that I want to work on taming whilst he isn't coming out, because once he's loose again I'll have no chance. However, if I can't tame him and he doesn't stop biting after a reasonable amount of time, I'm going to start letting him out again. I don't want to keep him inside for more than a month because he deserves his freedom and if he won't learn then he won't. Hopefully I'll be able to make sure he's stopped biting and can teach him to step onto my finger and then wait until told to get down, and that way if I move his cage into the bathroom after this, I can hopefully teach him to go home when I ask and teach him to step up and wait consistently outside of his cage too. There is one thing, though. Munchy was regurgitating nearly constantly on one of his bell toys, and it is now disgusting so I'm going to remove it and just use the former mirror as a hoop with no bell. Another toy he gets attached to has two small mirrors and I don't know if I can remove them without destroying it, so I might just have to cover them somehow, he doesn't seem to bad with the bell on the string of balls, and the wheel with the bells is another problem. The problem isn't so much how he likes them, as I don't have a problem with him when it comes to the two little mirrors, and it's really hard to find toys without bells or mirrors, but when he gets attached to them he bites if he thinks you're going to touch them, to the point where he'll take off skin or draw blood. What I want to know it, whilst teaching him not to bite should I put in these toys and touch them and tell him off for biting, or should I just leave it? I'm also trying to look for toys that don't have bells or mirrors (I'm hoping to work on a better bond with him whilst doing this taming thus why I don't like mirrors because once he sees his reflection he won't pay me any attention) so if anyone knows of any good ones I can buy/make then please let me know I'm going to make a tree thing during a free day to put on his cage stand and put hanging toys on (because they clutter up his cage) so only toys that attach to the bars will be going in his cage. It's mainly the toy thing that I want advice on, but if anyone has any advice about anything else then all advice is welcome ^^ N.B. He'll jump up onto hands for food, so that's not a problem.
|
|
Feb 29, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Bird Junky
Normal Green
Posts: 458
|
Post by Bird Junky on Jul 25, 2012 23:24:00 GMT
Hi Ira. Your approaching your problems from the wrong end. Regurg, what ever you remove he just do it on something else.....B.J.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2012 6:58:59 GMT
He doesn't, actually. It's just that one bell that he was doing it on constantly. Everything else he will do it on occasionally but not the way he did with the bell. He just gets attached to some of his other toys and will bite if you try to touch them, but won't regurgitate on them much, if at all.
|
|
|
Post by stace on Jul 26, 2012 7:18:45 GMT
When they are in that regurg mode (which happens with a single male bird), they tend to go for toys that their little minds can imagine being another bird. The mirror and bell are reflective, so they can imagine their image is a lubbly jubbly hen. Sometimes the shape of the toy makes them more likely to feed it as well. Different strokes for different folks (birdies).
If there were another bird with him, they'd feed each other. It's all a natural part of being a good provider.
My bird does it too. His urge to do it is stronger some times than others - probably to do with his fitness/breeding season. Usually he has a favourite regurge toy. But as BJ says, if you remove it, he will probably eventually fixate on another one. Maybe not immediately though.
Over time, I've bought all stainless steel toys and toy parts, some with plastic baubles. Every day, when I replace his food and water, I swap his food/water bowls for clean, swap out that mucky toy/toys, and put them all in the dishwasher.
I figure it's better that he regurgitates on a toy/surface that's easy to clean, rather than a fabric type toy that's hard to clean and may harbour germs if left over time.
I even bought a small stainless steel mirror on a stainless chain. It's reflective enough for him to enjoy, without being super reflective so he obsesses - and it also goes in the dishwasher.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2012 9:33:57 GMT
Thanks Stace! Good to know it's not a problem. I've still got the one thing with two little mirrors on it and none of his toys are fabric, so they're all easy enough to clean. Well, aside from the tennis ball that he's never even touched, but he's only had that since going over my boyfriend's. He did it soon after being moved, so I guess perhaps it was a reaction to a strange environment. We've got a lot of reflective surfaces outside of his cage anyway, so one or two inside aren't a problem. I'd rather he feels happy thinking he has company seeing as I can't provide him with another bird.
Also, what does it mean in budgie language when they make a slightly gurgling sounding noise and flick their wings slightly, often whilst hunched over? Munchy's been doing this when I move things outside his cage and I wasn't sure if it was an aggressive gesture and whether it needed disciplining or not. I've been telling him off for it by saying 'no' sternly, but it would be more helpful if I knew what he was trying to say.
|
|
|
Post by Rachael Kellett on Jul 26, 2012 16:06:57 GMT
I have a budgie that sometimes regurgitates on things, but only on shiny objects such as mirrors. Maybe try giving him toys with no mirrors and see how he gets on
|
|
|
Post by BudgiesBuddy on Jul 26, 2012 18:03:10 GMT
I have had a few budgies do so when they are getting sexually mature but sooner or later they stop it.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 27, 2012 0:25:36 GMT
Blue used to do it to his mirror, but didn't with anything else, even when I removed it, which I did week about. I am not sure how long it lasted, maybe a year, but then he stopped on his own accord.
I don't think the flicking his wings is anything to discipline. I have never taken it as an aggressive sign anyway.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2012 10:36:38 GMT
Thanks everyone. He regurgitated on his iodine block yesterday so I removed it and washed off the area in the hope that if he does choose something else to regurgitate on then it will be something that's easier to wash. I'll leave him to it then, Hezz. He mainly seems to do it when we're holding something he wants or when he's being affectionate to his currently favoured toy. I just started trying to finger tame him again. He won't jump onto my hand for regular seed but will for millet. I plastered my finger but I don't have any flesh coloured ones and I think the white micropore scared him, so he didn't bite but just fluttered around the cage and would jump onto my wrist. I might keep trying with it though because it'll be handy in case he starts biting my finger once he's used to it. I took it off and approached him with my wrist when he was near his current 'girlfriend'. I got given a slight nip once, whilst I told him off for, but otherwise he just kept hopping on and off. Not sure if I really want to try with my finger or not >< Guess I'd better bite the bullet and just do it. Edit: He's willing to stand on the bandaged finger if he jumps onto my wrist and I use it to rattle his toy. Not sure if he'll bite with this toy, but having the plastered finger seems more like starting right from the beginning with him, but then I don't know if he'll bite if I take it off. Going to try to get more of that strapping plaster I used to have, as it's similar to the colour of skin and he used to bite when I had that on. For now his cage has moved into the bathroom as he escaped the cage once earlier and he will go back inside easier if he's in there, giving me a chance to hopefully get him to go home when I ask ^^ Potentially bitten fingers crossed
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jul 29, 2012 1:53:15 GMT
Glad you still have your sense of humour, Ira. Just keep working with him. With all the stopping and starting and changing places (and that is not meant as a criticism) he probably is a little confused as to what to do. Now that is out of the way, hopefully he will start to remember his lessons.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2012 11:51:04 GMT
Well, I've got to keep some sanity, Hezz ;D I kid, really. I absolutely adore the little fellow. Even if he never learns to fully stop biting or becomes handtame he's still lovely. He always makes us laugh and runs over to us for kisses when we go to look out of the window.
He's only biting when he tucks himself up against a toy or the bars of the cage, or if we otherwise disturb him. For instance, this morning I needed to remove the food bowl to blow out the husks, but he was right next to it, I'd only just uncovered it and he was still sleepy. So to get it, I had to move him, which earned me a bite for bothering him, but after he bit, quite hard, and I didn't move he just jumped up and hopped away.
*Random break for happy moment* He just said 'Give us a kiss, Zoe' He's having a really chatty moment
He's happy to step up to come out of his cage and will usually step up outside unless he doesn't want to, and then he will if I persevere, so he seems to still remember. It's alright, Hezz, I don't take it that way and I understand what you mean. I wish I could've spent all day, everyday, with him when I first got him and knew what I was doing. There's still a bit of stopping and starting, but I'm working on it slowly and surely. I'm showing him millet help between my thumb and finger and saying 'up' and he's hopping up for that, so hopefully if I keep going at that I can move on to hiding it from him and only revealing it after he's stepped up, and then do sessions outside of the cage.
Whether he becomes hand tame or not, and even if he never wants to spend more time with me, I still love him and he's become a firm member of the family. Everyone adores him when they come over ^^
Edit: He's coming out with a lot of random things, such as 'Where's Zoe gone?' and 'Pretty boidy'. At one point he was on the windowsill and I said 'Munchkin!' and he said it back XD
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Aug 1, 2012 0:33:37 GMT
Ah, that's sweet. I am sure he will get there. I think you will one day turn around going "what was all the fuss about". He will gradually stop and you will forget you had a problem with him. To want to talk is an indication he is wanting to copy you and be around you. Good work.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2012 7:02:48 GMT
I think his funniest one from yesterday was when he was in his cage and then came out onto the rope perch quite close to me and said "Hello?" Me and nan couldn't stop laughing.
Also, when he was over my boyfriend's house he was saying "Kiss Kenny. Give us a kiss. Come on then. Kiss me." which is all normal, and then his voice went low and he said "Oh go on then" which I assume he picked up from my granddad at some point when I pointed out that Munchy seemed to want a kiss, as he always runs as close as he can to my granddad when granddad's moving around. I've never heard him do that though.
He also jumped up onto the bars of the cage to see my boyfriend the first time he came over after Munchy had come home, so obviously he doesn't dislike him XD
I'm glad he wants to be around us. It makes me feel less bad about the fact that I'm not allowed to get him a friend to play with. He doesn't really understand how to play with us but he always lets us know when we're not being loud enough for his liking. As long as he's happy, that's all that matters to me.
Edit: Earlier I heard him say 'bee, bee, bee' which is what my nan says before saying 'boo' when she's sitting next to his cage talking to him. XD And I was rolling a tennis ball that my boyfriend gave Munchy around on the play gym and said "What's this Munchy? It's Munchy's toy." Then he wandered over to it, pecked at it a few times, then went past it and said "Munchy's toy". He never ceases to amaze me.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Aug 2, 2012 1:38:26 GMT
He really is hitting his straps then, isn't he? How lovely for you, to see progress at last.
|
|
May 5, 2024 5:48:41 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 10:20:04 GMT
Yeah, sadly I never seem to have enough time at home consistently to teach him properly, but as we let him out in the afternoon and he stays out until he goes in for food at around about his bedtime it's not really all that important. It is about the only interaction I get from him though, so attempting to teach him is nice. He does try to escape the cage every time I actually want to practice in the cage with him, though, which can be a bit of a nuisance.
He also adores his reflection so much in this one photo frame that even millet can't distract him from it. I swear, when I have my own place and have another budgie I'm not going to have mirrors and shiny things all over the place XD And I'll know how to tame them better from the beginning, so hopefully I won't have this problem. Mind you, considering how little time I seem to have now, when I'm working I'm probably not going to have much at all, especially if I end up like one of my uni lecturers, so I'd have to get more than one. *Shrug* Munchy doesn't seem to mind my incompetence, though, or the fact that I can't just stay home for a whole month and try to tame him because I'm probably going to end up guilt-tripped unintentionally by my boyfriend who would likely act upset if I refused to see him because of Munchy. Why is life never simple? Maybe I should just try to become a teacher so that I have reasonable amounts of time at home rather than doing stuff I'm actually interested in ><
Yikes, this thread is going wildly off topic and becoming more of a grumble about life now. Sorry Hezz XD
He is now playing with the weeble budgie on the desk next to my laptop, though, and has been jumping up onto my arm. Removing all the reflective stuff helps XD He started off feeding the weeble, then started nibbling at my laptop, and now he's looking at his reflection at the side of the screen. But at least he's nearby ^^
|
|